Data printing system



Sheet Filed April 26, 1965 NWN Dec..3l, 1968 c. ARIEL 3,419,678

DATA PRINTING SYSTEM Filed April 26, 1965 Y Sheet 2 of 4` 3 574 @E vcoa/v TE@ C. ARIEL DATA PRINTING `'SYSIEEM Dec. 3.1, 1968 Sheet Filed April 26. 1965 MSE LQ u .vm

m A m r m m m SQ Q Dec. 3l, 1968 c. ARIEL DATA PRINTING SYSTEM Sheet Filed April 26, 1965 United States Patent O 3,419,678 DATA PRINTING SYSTEM Carmi Ariel, Hollywood, Calif., assignor to Clary Corporation, San Gabriel, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,656 9 Claims. (Cl. 178-23) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A data printer comprising a rotatable type wheel, a data register, a buffer register, and a pulse counter operable in response to registering of data by the data register to count pulses from a pulse source, the counter being effective upon the count of 1 to transfer data from the the data register to the buffer register, and effective upon the count of 2 to cause a printing operation, and effective -at the count of 3 to clear the data register, and effective at a still higher count to cause line feeding of the paper.

- This invention relates to data printers and has particular reference to a teleprinter embodying a single type wheel which is employed to successively print type characters `along a line of print from serially received data signals.

' A principal object of the present invention is to provide a printing system of the above type which is operable at -relatively high speeds and yet is highly reliable.

Another object is to provide a printing system of the above type in which sequential timing and programming is controlled by a pulse generating device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printing System of the above type in which a counter is effective to both program the printer and to cause a line feed operation after a predetermined period of time in the event no printing has occurred during such period.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a schematic view of a data printing control system embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the controls for printing as well as the type wheel rotating and spacing motors.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the timing of the various components of the printer system.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through a printer associated with the invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view through the printer and is taken substantially along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4. Describing rst the printer, reference is made to FIGS. 4 and 5. A type wheel 11 having a column of type characters 12 equally spaced tberearound is slideably splined on a square yshaft 13 which has round sections at its opposite ends rotatably supported in bearings formed in a printer casing 14.

The type wheel 11 is slideable along the square portlon of the shaft 13 into different letter space locations by a shifter 20. The latter is slideable along a stationary guide shaft 21 which has a Isquare cross section and is supported at its ends by the side walls of the casing 14. The shifter 20 is attached to an endless cable 22 wrapped around pulleys 23 and 24. The pulley 24 is mounted on a shaft `19 rotatably supported by a bearing 29, the shaft carrying a gear 25 meshing with a gear 26 driven by a `suitable three phase stepper motor 27. The latter is energized by electrical pulses to incrementally advance the shifter 20 and type wheel 11 one letter space to the left (FIG. 3) as an incident to each pulse applied thereto, as will be described in detail later.

The shaft 13 is incrementally rotated to position the type wheel in different type character printing positions relative to a paper lstrip by a three phase motor 15.

The motor has its three stator kwindings connected at one end of each thereof through amplifiers 126 to respective stages of a 3-stage ring counter 127 arranged to be stepped by a pulse generator 12S. The output of the latter is applied to an and gate 130 which is enabled upon application of a print command signal and a noncoincidence signal over lines and 131, respectively, as will be described later. The windings of the motor are shown connected in Y form and cooperate with a permanent magnet rotor (not shown) to incrementally advance the type wheel from one type character printing position to a next upon each step of the counter.

Means are provided for obtaining a printing imprint of a selected type character against a strip of paper 28 and for this purpose, a print hammer in the form of a bail 35 extends across the width of the paper strip 2-8 and is pivotally supported at its opposite ends on a pivot rod 36. The hammer is normally held out of contact with the paper by a short tension spring 37 and carries an armature 38 cooperable with an electromagne't 40. Thus, when the electromagnet is energized the armature 38 will be attracted thereto, thus rocking the hammer 35 counterclockwise to strike the paper against the type wheel and thereby transferring an imprint thereto. The paper is preferably of the well known pressure sensitive type wherein an imprint thereon is immediately rendered visible. However, the usual inking ribbon (not shown) or other forms of visible imprint means may be used if desired.

The paper 28 is fed from a supply roll 41 and is guided over guide rolls 42 and 143, past the type wheel 11. The paper extends over a feed roll 43 and onto a takeup roll 44 which is yieldably driven in a manner not shown to accumulate the printed portion of the paper.

Means are provided to line feed the paper strip after each line of print has been printed and at other selected times. For this purpose, a ratchet 45 is attached to the feed roll 43 and is intermittently advanced by a pawl 46 pivotally supported by an arm 47 and is held in engagement with the ratchet by a spring (not shown). The arm 47 is pivotally supported for movement about the axis of the roll 43 and is connected by a link 145 to the armature 50 of an electromagnet 51. Upon energization of the electromagnet, the armature will be attracted thereto against the action of a tension spring 52 to advance the feed roll 43 one increment at a time to thereby line feed the paper strip.

Describing now the circuitry for controlling the printer, reference is made to FIGS. l, 2 and 3. Data is received over a line 50 in the form of a 7-bit code, a portion of which incorporates the well-known S-bit Baudot code. The first bit T1 for each character representation is always low in potential or at zero to form a start pulse and the succeeding 5 bits are arranged in different combinations of high and zero potentials, depending upon the particular character to be printed. The final bit T7 is always at high potential and is provided solely as an in-between-messages spacing pulse.

Included in the codes are certain non-printing commands or instructions such as bell, blank, line feed, space command and carriage return which may be received in interspersed relation with data information to be printed.

Data and command information is applied to a 6-stage shift register 51 of well known construction. As a start bit T1 is received over line 50, it sets a flip-flop 53 which conditions an and gate 54 and resets a pulse counter 55. Accordingly, pulses from a relative high speed pulse generator 56 are passed through the gate 54 to a divider circuit 57. The latter is of well known construction, comprising a plurality of cascaded binary stages effective to divide the pulses received from the generator 56 by a factor of 8. The output of the divider 57 is applied over line 58 to a shift terminal on the register 51.

The output of the divider 57 is timed with the data received over line 50 so that the shift signal occurs at approximately midpoint in the reception of each bit, i.e., T1, T2, etc., to insure proper timing of the operation of register 51 in registering a complete representation of a character to be printed.

As the shift register 51 becomes filled, the start pulse T1 is registered in the final stage S-6 of the shift register and causes a signal to be applied over line 60 to reset the flip-flop S3 and thus reset the divider 57, inhibit gate 54 and condition an and gate `61 to transmit pulses from the pulse generator 56 to the counter 55. The signal from flip-flop 53 is also applied over line 62 to respective inputs of a set of transfer and gates 63-67, inclusive, thereby conditioning such gates for operation.

Normally, at the count of 1 by the counter 5S, a signal will be applied over line 68 to enable inputs of the transfer gates 63-67 to transfer information from the respective stages of the shift register 51 over lines, i.e., 70, to respective flip-flops of a buffer register 72 which stores such data temporarily.

However, if a figures non-printing code, i.e., 11011 or a letters non-printing code, i.e., 11111, has been registered by the shift register 51, the transfer gates 63- 67 are inhibited. For this purpose, an and gate 73 has its inputs connected to the various stages of the shift register such that if the figures code is registered, gate 73 is enabled to -pass a signal through an or gate 79 and into an inverter circuit 75. Therefore, respective inputs of the transfer gates 63-67 will be held at low potential, thus inhibiting such gates. Likewise, if a letters code is received by a letters and gate 76, a signal will be applied through or gate 79 and into inverter circuit 75 to inhibit the transfer gates 63-67.

On the other hand, the output of gate 73 is connected through line 77 to the reset terminal of a flip-dop 78, forming part of the buffer register 72, whereby to reset the latter flip-flop. Also, the output of gate 76 is connected through line 81 to the set terminal of Hip-flop 78.

As the buffer register 72 is set and registers a 6bit code, the outputs of the flip-flops comprising the same are connected through lines 83 (see also FIG. 5) to inputs of a comparison circuit 84 (FIG. 5) of well known construction. When signals on the lines 83 coincide with signals on a second set of input lines 85 energized by a suitable encoder 86 driven by the shaft 13, an output signal will be applied over line 87.

Line 87 is connected through an inverter circuit 132 to the input line 131 of gate 130. Thus, when no signal is received from the comparator 84 and when a print command signal is applied over line 100, the gate 130 will be conditioned to enable pulses from the pulse generator to step the motor 15, and thereby the type wheel, to present different type characters to the printing point. However, when a coincidence signal is received from the comparator circuit 84, indicating that a selected type character has reached the printing point, the gate 130 will be inhibited to stop the motor 15.

The outputs of the Hip-flops of buffer 72 are connected to appropriate inputs of a series of print inhibiting and -gates 88-92, inclusive. For example, gate 88 is connected to transmit a signal when a bell code, i.e., 001010 is received; gate 89 is connected to transmit a signal when a blank code, i.e., 00000 is received; gate 90 is connected to transmit a signal when a line feed code, i.e., 00010 is received; gate 91 is connected to transmit a signal when a character space command code, i.e., 00100 is received; and gate 92 is connected to transmit a signal when a carriage return code, i.e., 01001 is received.

The outputs of the above gates 88-92 are connected to respective inputs of an or gate 93 which, in turn, has its output connected through an inverter 94 to one input of a print command and gate 95 whose output is connected to the aforementioned line 100. Accordingly, when a non-printing code to be passed by one of the and gates 88-92. is received, the and gate 95 will be inhibited so as to prevent printing of such code even though the latter is passed through the lines 83 to the comparison circuit.

At the count of 2 by the counter 55, and provided that a figures or letters count has not been formally received, a signal will be transmitted over line 97 to enable an and gate 96 to set flip-op 99 and thus apply a print command signal over line 98 to the and gate 95. Accordingly, if no non-printing signal, i.e., bell, blank, etc., is registered at this time, the gate 95 will be enabled to apply a print command signal over line 100 to the gate and to a hammer control and gate 134.

Now, upon receipt of a coincidence signal over line 87 the gate 134 will be opened to transmit a signal through a l-shot multi-vibrator and inverter circuit 136 to apply a hammer or print signal over line 137 to the electromagnet 40.

The motor 27 is effective to space the type wheel one space to the left as an incident to each .printing operation and to return the type wheel to its rightmost position as an incident to a line feed command or when the carriage reaches its leftmost position. For this purpose, the windings of motor 27 are connected through amplifiers 140 and a series of and and or gates to different stages of a 3-stage ring counter 141.

The ydirection of rotation of motor 27 is controlled by a control flip-flop 142 which, in turn, is controlled by a pair of limit switches 143 and 144 located in the path of the type wheel 11.

Assuming the flip-Hop 142 to be in reset condition, an inverter circuit 145 applied a high potential over line 146 to condition gates 147 and 148. In this condition, a second inverter circuit 150 will cause inhibiting signals to be applied to gates 151 and 152. Accordingly, as each hammer operating signal is applied over line 137 it is also applied through a differentiating circuit 153, a 1shot multivibrator 154, line 155 and or gate 156 to step the counter 141 and thus advance the motor 27 one step in a counterclockwise direction.

It will be noted that the signal from the circuit 154 is also transmitted through line 112, and or gate 113 to reset the various flip-flops comprising the buffer register 72, with the exception of flip-flop 78. Such signal will also reset flip-flop 99.

Upon registration of a bell, blank, or space command code and consequent enablement of the gates 88, 89 and 91, respectively, a signal will be applied through an or gate 101 to a space command line 102. Such signal will be applied through gate 156 to likewise step the counter 141 and motor 27.

When the type wheel reaches its leftmost position, it will close switch 143 to set the flip-flop 142, thereby inhibiting gates 147 and 148 and conditioning gates 151 and 152. Also, a signal will -be applied to condition an and gate 158 to enable the same to pass pulses from thepulse generator 128, through the -gate 158 to step the motor in a clockwise direction whereby to return the type wheel to the right until it closes switch 144 to set the flip-flop 142.

When a line feed code is registered, the line feed gate 90 is enabled to apply a line feed command signal over line 103 and through or gate 104 to a line 105 connected in circuit with the electromagnet 51 whereby to effect line feeding of the paper. Such signal is also applied through or gate 139 to set the flip-flop 142 to return the type wheel to its right-most position.

Referring again to a print operation and at the count of 3 by the counter 55, a signal will be applied over line 106 to one input of an and gate 107 so that if a print command signal is being applied over line 98, it will be applied over line 108, through gate 107 and through an or gate 110 to the clear terminals of the register 51 to thereby clear the register for reception of a new code. However, if a figures or letters code has been registered by the register 51, a conditioning signal will be applied from inverter circuit 75, over line 170 and inverter circuit 171 to one input of and gate 172. Thus, the aforementioned signal applied over line 106 will, in this case, be applied through gate 172 and gate 110 to clear the register 51.

If no data or command signals are received over the line within a predeterminedl period, i.e., 5 seconds, after a previous data or command representation has been registered, the counter which has been registering a continuous count of pulses transmitted by the pulse generator 56, will apply a set signal over line to set a line feed command flip-flop 121 which will transmit a signal through a differentiating circuit 122 to set a second flip-flop 123 so as to apply a line feed command signal through or gate 104 and line 105 to cause a line feed operation.

As the line feed operation is completed, the switch 114 will also apply a reset signal over line 124 to reset flipilop 123.

Since the differentiating circuit 122 isolates flip-Hop 121 from flip-flop 123 DC-wise, the latter will remain reset even though flip-fiop 121 remains in its set state.

When the next start signal representing a new character or command is received over line 50 the flip-flop 53 will be set to apply a signal over line 125 to reset flip-flop 121 along with the counter 5S.

A `reset circuit is connected to each of the counters 127 and 141 to initially reset each in a condition wherein one of the stages thereof registers a l and the others register 0.,

Although the invention has been described in detail and certain specific terms and languages have been used, it is to ybe understood that the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing system,

the combination with a rotatable type member having type characters therearound, and

means for effecting a printing impression from said member onto a record medium,

of a data register,

a buffer register,

means for transferring data from said data register to said buffer register,

means under control of said buffer register for positioning said type member to present a said type character corresponding to data registered by said buffer register in printing relation to said record medium, f a pulse counter,

a source of pulses,

means operable in response tosaid data register upon responsive to said last mentioned means for resetting said pulse counter.

3. In a printing system,

the combination with a rotatable type member having type characters therearound,

means for effecting a printing impression from said member onto a record medium, and

means for line feeding said record medium relative to said type member,

of a data register,

a buffer register,

means for transferring data from said data register to said buffer register,

means under control of said buffer register for positioning said type member to present a said type character corresponding to data registered by said buffer register in printing relation to said record medium,

a pulse counter,

a source of pulses,

means operable in response to said data register upon registering data for connecting said pulse source to said pulse counter,

means responsive to said pulse counter upon registering a predetermined count for causing operation of said transferring means,

means responsive to said counter upon registering a higher count for causing operation of said impression effecting means,

means responsive jointly to said impression effecting means and said counter upon registering a count higher than said predetermined count for clearing said data register, and

means responsive to said counter upon registering a count higher than said last mentioned count for invariably causing operation of said line feeding means.

4. In a printing system,

the combination with a rotatable type member having type characters therearound,

means for effecting a printing impression from said member onto a record medium, and

means for line feeding said record medium relative to said type member,

of a main register for registering data and line feed command signals,

a buffer register,

means for transferring data from said main register to said buffer register,

means under control of said buffer register for positioning said type member to present a said type character corresponding to data registered by said buffer register in printing relation to said record medium,

means responsive to registration of a line feed command signal by said buffer register for causing operation of said line feeding means,

a pulse counter,

a source of pulses,

means operable in response to said data register upon registering data for connecting said pulse source to said counter,

means responsive to said pulse counter upon registering a predetermined count for causing operation of said transferring means,

means responsive to said counter upon registering a higher count for causing operation of said impression effecting means,

means responsive jointly to said impression effecting means and said counter upon registering a count higher than said predetermined count for clearing said data register, and

means responsive to Said counter upon registering a count higher than said last mentioned count for invariably causing operation of said line: feeding means.

5. In a printing system,

the combination with a rotatable type member having type characters therearound, and

means for elfecting a printing impression from said member onto a record medium,

of a main register for registering data and command signals,

a buffer register,

means for transferring data from said main register to said butter register,

means under control of said buffer register for positioning said type member to present a said type character corresponding to data registered by said buffer register in printing relation to said record medium,

a pulse counter,

a source of pulses,

means operable in response to said data register upon registering data for connecting said pulse source to said counter,

means responsive to said pulse counter upon registering a predetermined count for causing operation of said transferring means,

means responsive to said counter upon registering a higher count for causing operation of said impression effecting means, and

means responsive to registration of command signals by said bufrer register for inhibiting operation of said impression effecting means.

6. In a printing system,

the combination with a rotatable type member having type characters therearound, and

means for effecting a printing impression from said member onto a record medium,

of a data register,

a buffer register,

means for transferring data from said data register to said buffer register,

means for transferring data from said data register to said buffer register,

means under control of said buffer register for positioning said type member to present a said type character corresponding to data registered by said buffer register to said record medium,

a pulse counter,

a source of pulses,

means operable in response to said data register upon registering data for connecting said pulse source to said pulse counter,

means responsive to said pulse counter upon registering a predetermined count for causing operation of said transferring means,

means responsive to said counter upon registering a higher count for causing operation of said impression effecting means,

means for entering data in serial form into said data register,

means responsive to partial entry of data into said register for resetting said pulse counter, and

means responsive to complete entry of data into said data register for connecting said pulse source to said pulse counter.

7. In a printing system,

the combination with a rotatable type member having type characters spaced therearound, and

means for effecting a printing impression from said member onto a record medium,

of means including a polyphase electric motor for rotating said type member,

said motor having a plurality of spaced energizing windings,

a ring counter having a number of stages equal to the number of said windings,

a source of pulses connected to said counter for advancing said counter,

means connecting each of said stages with a respective one of said windings whereby to incrementally advance said motor upon application of said pulses to said counter,

means for registering characters to be printed, and

means responsive jointly to said registering means and to said type member when said type member presents to said record medium a character corresponding to a character registered by said registering means for causing said controlling means to arrest transmission of said pulses.

8. In a printing system,

the combination with a type member having type characters thereon, and

means Vfor effecting a printing impression of said member onto a record medium,

of means including a poly-phase electric motor for advancing said type member along a line of print,

said motor having a plurality of spaced energizing windings,

a ring counter having a number of stages equal to the number of said windings,

a source of pulses connected to said counter for advancing said counter,

means for controlling transmission of said pulses,

means connecting each of said stages with a respective one of said windings whereby to incrementally advance said motor upon application of said pulses to said counter,

means for registering characters to be printed, and

means responsive to said rst mentioned means for causing said controlling means to arrest transmission of said pulses.

9. The combination according to claim 9 comprising means for selectively connecting said stages to different ones of said windings whereby to reverse the direction of advancement of said type member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,274,337 9/1966 Berkel 178-23 3,291,909 12/1966 Clark 178-28 3,304,366 2/1967 Clark 178--23 6() THOMAS B. HABECKER, Primary Examiner. 

